An unmarried straw-user walks into a wedding

That Nuuly subscription isn't as green as you think. [Bloomberg]( This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a climate anxiety therapy session of Bloomberg Opinion’s opinions, by Christina Sterbenz. On Sundays, we look at the major themes of the week past and how they will define the week ahead. Sign up for the daily newsletter [here](. Diagnosis: Wedding Guest Blues and Climate Anxiety I’ve got the wedding guest blues — and not because I wish I were the one getting married. (Just don’t tell [Harrison Butker]( or the [population-decline doomers.]() Instead, it’s because I thought I was making sustainable choices when I attended someone’s Big Day. Then, I read Lara Williams’ [new column](. Like any good piece of journalism, this one was born out of a question and the sheer will to find an answer. Lara wanted to calculate the environmental cost of the wedding of Anant Ambani, the son of Asia’s richest man. (For those not up-to-date on the [Indian economy](, you may recall the event as Rihanna’s first performance in the country. If only she would give us a new album.) But the figures were so high, Lara broke the first carbon footprint calculator she found online, which is actually kind of funny. She ultimately estimated Ambani’s super-wedding released the same amount of carbon as four SpaceX flights to the International Space Station, which is not at all funny. But she still wasn’t satisfied with the accuracy of her calculations. So, with the help of our data team here at Bloomberg Opinion, she analyzed the emissions of weddings on her own and created an interactive quiz, cleverly titled [“A Guide to Big, Fat, Green Weddings.”]( It’s useful and eye-opening, whether you’re the happy couple or just there for the red meat. My family is Eastern European, and this exchange is extremely relatable. My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding/Gold Circle Films Of course, wedding-guest flights are the most carbon-intensive part of the celebration. But have you ever thought about the flights for importing flowers? Or the excessive amount of water needed to grow almonds for that gluten-free wedding cake? Well, Lara has — and it turns out, being a true environmental ally requires more than a cursory thought about best practices (especially in the [era of greenwashing.]() For example, I’m a diehard [Nuuly-user](; I’ve convinced myself that renting clothes, especially dresses I’ll wear once, is the greener option. But one study Lara cited found that renting clothing was actually worse for the environment than reselling, recycling or just throwing them away because of the emissions involved in shipping and returns. Worried about ruining the planet? You, me, and Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer/Universal Pictures I also try to pick the pescatarian or vegetarian option for my reception meals. But depending on what’s local, what’s in season, and how the food is being transported to the venue, venison or local game could be more eco-friendly than produce or fish. Many couples are at least trying to make more environmentally conscious choices. But handing out plant-based confetti for guests to throw as they exit the ceremony just isn’t going to cut it. Points for trying though! Really!  This is sort of good news! Elaine He/Bloomberg Opinion As a woman in my early 30s, I’ve attended a lot of weddings — one year, I went to eight. I also have climate anxiety. I shudder to think about all the times I’ve grabbed a pair of plastic flip-flops after screeching Lil’ Jon lyrics for hours on the dance floor. If only I had read Lara’s column 10 years ago. Don’t get me wrong: One of my biggest pet peeves is how commercialism has gaslit us into thinking that our [lack of recycling]( (which is largely broken anyway) or [plastic-straw use](is killing the planet. (I still feel guilty when I ask for one with my coffee to avoid acid-damage to my teeth.) The burning of fossil fuels is the real problem, not your wedding. But I do believe that consumer — and in this case, wedding guest — habits can have a big impact. So ask your florist whether the peonies you absolutely need in your centerpieces (Did you catch that sarcasm?) are locally grown or flown in from Kenya. And maybe tell your best friend that all the flights to get to her dream wedding on the Amalfi coast are contributing to the increasing number of [billion-dollar environmental disasters.]( Fortunately, my social circle is mostly married or not planning to be at this point. In fact, we’re entering another era, a much different one. Lara, could you write another guide about having a Big, Fat, Green divorce party? I can’t imagine the [divorce ring]( trend is it. Are you out for blood or … blood diamonds, EmRata? Bonus Big Day Content: - Don’t make your wedding [a financial burden]( for everyone else. - The pandemic wedding boom might lead to [a bad hangover](. - Should couples [combine their money]( after saying “I do”? [What’s the World Got in Store](? - First Presidential Debate, June 27: [This Biden-Trump Debate Is What the Moment Demands]( — Tim O’Brien - LA Releases Annual Homeless Count, June 28: [The US Doesn’t Have Enough Housing. How Do We Build More?]( — Kyla Scanlon - Karen Read Murder Trial, June: — [It Just Got Easier to Be Convicted of a Crime]( — Noah Feldman Notes: Please send any feedback (unless it’s about my marital status or straw-use) to Christina Sterbenz at csterbenz@bloomberg.net. Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? 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